Pass the Hot Sauce

With the Beastie Boys releasing their new album this month, it reminded me of how much I love this trio. Ad Rock, Mike D and MCA. These three have continually stayed true to themselves throughout a career with more longevity than many other hip hop stars.

The two albums I literally grew up on and got me into hip hop from an early age were Paul’s Boutique and Wu Tang’s 36 Chambers. Others of my favourites from this time were Doggystyle and Black Sunday. I still listen to all four of these albums now, but the difference with the Beasties is that they continue to surprise me and entertain.

Since these iconic albums the other artists or collectives haven’t gone on to replicate the same standard of album. With Wu-Tang this is a difficult one, individually members have gone on to record great albums like Raekwon’s Only built for Cuban Linx, GZA’s Liquid Swords etc, but as a collective the heights of 36 Chambers haven’t been hit.

Snoop has done some great tunes; don’t get me wrong I still love Snoop. But since Doggystyle he’s never gone on to create an album of greatness, however, following this album its near on impossible such is it’s class; which is why his show at the Manchester International Festival in a couple of months where he’ll perform Doggystyle from start to finish will be epic.

And so that gets me back to Beastie Boys. Paul’s Boutique may have inspired me, but such offerings since as Check Your Head, Ill Communication, Hello Nasty, The Mix Up and now Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 show their class and ability to change their style while still holding onto their thoughts and philosophy.

For me this couldn’t be shown better than in Paul’s Boutique. After the success of Licence to Ill they fucked off from NYC and Def Jam, recording the album in LA and bringing a totally different style. Hooking up with Mario C and the Dust Brothers and making an album of intricate samples layered together representing the place they were at, at that time. Smoking weed, drinking copious amounts of red wine and running round town egging people, hence the tune Egg Man – listen to the lyrics its brilliant. To me everyone involved in hip hop nowadays could learn a lesson from the B Boys, Paul’s Boutique wasn’t a success, I think only one single was released and the album struggled initially. But they made it cos they wanted to make it. After Licence to Ill there was all the expectation around them, they said fuck that!

This is why I love the Beastie’s and will be bumping their album for the coming months.

Here is a selection of my favourite Beastie’s tunes, Enjoy!

Shake your Rump

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BptQHAW2T5M

Get it together

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7REpJlMfLo

Sounds of Science

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtdKvEpl-Uo

Root Down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtdKvEpl-Uo

Remote Control

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrQtEQD-oE4

High Plains Drifter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-f0510qYnk

He 'ates Scousers

It was a sad day yesterday when Gary Red retired from professional football. Loved by the Old Trafford faithful, G Nev embodied everything there is about United. Winning trophies, hating the bin dippers, winding up City and above all a desire to continually strive for perfection.

Hated by the rest of the Premier League fans? Probably. What’s the reason for this?

Everyone is jealous of United. Since the 92/93 season we have been by far the most consistent team in the land, winning trophy after trophy. Others have contended with us but never maintained it. Blackburn bought one title (the only title that United hating twat Shearer ever won), Arsenal won a few and Chelsea are clearly the biggest threat. Not done three in a row twice though have you?!! Another thing which is true about most other clubs to have played in the Premier League. They have been dicked by United. Managers have lost their jobs when following a heavy defeat by Fergie’s men. Arsenal conceded six at Old Trafford, Chelsea conceded five at the Bridge, Ipswich 9, Forest 8, Blackburn 7. This breads animosity.

So we’ve established that United are hated. Neville being so entrenched in this is also hated. Yeh he might be outspoken in his love for United and his hatred of others but that doesn’t make him a bad player, which many idiot fans have been claiming over the last couple of days. Fact of the matter is when Fergie says he’s “the best English right-back of his generation”, he’s right. You don’t get that many England caps, play over 600 games for United or win that many trophies if you’re a bad player. It’s pure United hating.

Someone like Jaime Carragher is far more of a horrible bastard than Neville. His and gay boy Stevie G’s hatred for United is known to everyone. But that’s OK. The media love Liverpool, so does the rest of the country, and so they embody the rivalry between the two sets of supporters. Everybody likes it when they put themselves about in big matches, kiss cameras, get sent off for disgusting tackles. Doesn’t happen when anyone from our side does it though. Carragher is grim, have you listened to him in an interview? Have you heard the rumours about him spitting on walls in hotel rooms? Lovely chap. Hates United though, so that’s OK.

Fact is, Neville has been a fantastic servant to the game. A quality defender, the best crosser of the ball from full back I have ever seen, and a fantastic leader on the pitch. One of the best defenders of his generation? Most definitely. Hates scousers? Damn right he does!!

What I've been listening to this month

Some newish, some oldish

Yes King feat Mystro and LadyChann – Secret King

http://soundcloud.com/yesking/yesking-feat-mystro-and-ladychann-secret-king

Tribe Called Quest – Mr. Muhammad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HqVL4naP2c

The Milk – Kimmi

http://soundcloud.com/partisanpr/the-milk-kimmi-kimmi-demo

Herma Puma feat Elemental – Beneath the Sea

http://hermapuma.bandcamp.com/track/beneath-the-sea-ft-elemental

Fatboy Slim – Because I Got it Like That (Ultimatum Mix)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mDRdsvwEVU&feature=related

Kora – Burning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZFwsOgr23Q&feature=related

Why I love New Zealand

Anyone know anything about New Zealand? Answers are probably gonna come in the form of Lord of the Rings, those dudes running round all in black, maybe even some extreme sports. But what I reckon most people don’t know about is a little thing called Aotearoa Roots, and this is why I love New Zealand.

Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand and Aotearoa Roots is the name for the sound emanating from this beautiful place. Its roots lie predominantly in Reggae and Dub but with so many varied styles from many different bands in the country it spans through many distinct genres including Drum n Bass, jazz, hip hop, soul, rock and techno. Now why is reggae so big in a country that most people view as Australia’s neighbour? Well the reason behind this is the huge Maori and Polynesian influence exerted over the entire country. The laid back swagger of the Polynesian islands is never far from any Aotearoa Roots gig.

Now it’s not just the music that I was so taken with during my short spell living in the country. It’s the Kiwi style and the love for their home grown thing. I was lucky enough to see arguably the country’s biggest Aotearoa Roots band, Fat Freddy’s Drop, a couple of times when I was there most notably at the Regent Theatre in Dunedin. Such a great venue was deserving of literally two of the best hours of my life musically. But what really got me was the difference in the crowd compared to many gigs at home. From young hoods down at the front, to French restaurant owners to middle aged rastas and jazz lovers. Literally anyone who had a love for music was there. The Kiwi people really embrace their own music rejecting more mainstream offerings, something which many of us in society could really learn very much from. If you’re ever in this area of the world ignore your Lonely Planet and head to Wellington, most of the bands come from here and vibe in the city is like nowhere else. Cool as fuck!

Now I’ve already mentioned Fat Freddy’s, something for those who know me are probably sick of hearing about, but these scene is by no means limited to that 7 piece Wellington band. Others that I can’t stop listening to on my iPod at the moment include Salmonella Dub (soulful, drums and bases), Kora (bring the funk), Katchafire (pure reggae) and the Black Seeds (funky ass and previous home of Bret from the Concords). I implore anyone with a love for music to download what they can and fully appreciate my love for the vibe of NZ.  Special mention must also go to Taos and Jah Fire – great memories from Revolver – “Smoke Weed and Fly, It’s the only way to get by”.

Couple of tunes to get your juices flowing

Salmonella Dub – Push on Thru

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHYIHqSq4JQ

Fat Freddy’s Drop – Roady

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29MgzHUhHws